Itinerary

Days 1 & 2

U.S. / Antananarivo, Madagascar

Begin your Madagascar tour by flying independently from the U.S. on connecting flights to Antananarivo (Tana), Madagascar. Arrive on Day 2 and transfer to Hotel Colbert, where you enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. (Meals Aloft)

Day 3

Tana

Spend our morning on an orientation tour of the city before visiting the Natural History Museum and Lemur Park. At sunset, enjoy a stop at Lac Alarobia, seeing a variety of roosting birdlife. (B,L,D)

Days 4 & 5

Berenty Reserve

After breakfast, fly to Fort Dauphin in the far southeast of the island and set out across the countryside to Berenty Reserve. Spend two days exploring this small private reserve set in the semi-arid spiny forest and sisal fields. The reserve was created 70 years ago by the de Heaulme family as a private park to protect 250 hectares encompassing spiny forest and dry tamarind gallery woodland along the Mandrare River. The reserve is home to six species of lemur and the south’s largest colony of Madagascar fruit bats. The ease in observing resident sauntering ring-tailed lemurs and “dancing” Verreaux sifakas has turned this small protected area into one of Madagascar’s prime wildlife destinations. Enjoy naturalist-guided walks through the network of broad, well-maintained paths is a rewarding wildlife experience. By day, observe myriad birdlife and the reserve’s numerous ring-tailed lemurs and sifakas, as well as some red-fronted brown lemurs. At night, look for white-footed sportive lemur, Grey mouse lemur and the newly recognized red-and-grey mouse lemur. Exploring this reserve will also grant you the opportunity to see some of the reserve’s 103 bird species, 56 of whom breed here, and observe many prolific reptiles, including various chameleons species, lizards, the endangered radiated and spider tortoises and the Madagascar boa. Spend two nights at Berenty Lodge. (B,L,D Daily)

Day 6

Berenty Reserve / Fort Dauphin

After one last wildlife excursion in Berenty, set out for Fort Dauphin. Spend tonight at Croix du Sud in Fort Dauphin. (B,L,D)

Day 7

Tana

Fly to Tana and spend the afternoon at Ambohimanga, a small village that once served as a royal summer retreat. Explore a well-preserved Rova, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, with an Ombiasy, who explains the Malagasy system of telling one's fate. Overnight at Relais des Plateaux in Ivato. (B,L,D)

Days 8 & 9

Kirindy

During morning and night excursions in the "Swiss forest" of Kirindy, Madagascar crested ibis, Lantz's brush-warbler, sickle-billed vanga, giant coua and egrets. The park is also home to at least four diurnal species of lemur: Decken's sifaka, the brown lemur, the red-fronted lemur and the maki ring-tail. With luck, we hope to find the elusive fosa, a cat-like, carnivorous mammal, and fosa fossana, also known as the Malagasy or striped civet. Enjoy an excursion to the "Avenue of the Boababs," where we walk among these majestic trees and admire their natural habitat. Spend two nights at Camp Amoureux. (B,L,D)

Day 10

Morondava

After a morning excursion, drive to Morondava and check into Palissandre Cote Ouest before an afternoon at leisure. (B,L,D)

Day 11

Tana / Andasibe

Fly to Tana and explore the Mandraka Nature Farm. Drive to the Andasibe (Perinet) Reserve and spend three nights at Vakona Forest Lodge. (B,L,D)

Days 12 & 13

Andasibe (Perinet) Reserve

Explore Andasibe Reserve, situated in an area of montane rainforest. The reserve is famed for its population of babakoto indri lemur. Indri (“Indro”) means, roughly, "there it is" in Malagasy. These largest of all living lemurs are monogamous and do not live in captivity anywhere in the world. They greet the morning with a unique chorus of elaborate calls that echo throughout the forest. Several groups in the reserve have become highly habituated and are therefore relatively easy to see. The area is also home to grey bamboo lemurs and brown lemurs, as well as Parson's chameleons, which can exceed half a meter in length, Madagascar tree boa and numerous birds including Madagascar blue pigeon, blue coua, Nelicourvi weaver, Madagascar paradise flycatcher, blue vanga and Madagascar buzzard. In Mantadia National Park, search the primary forest for diademed sifakas and colorful birdlife. Enjoy a nighttime wildlife excursion in Voi Mma Park. (B,L,D Daily)

Day 14

Antananarivo

Drive to Tana and enjoy time to explore on your own. After a festive farewell dinner, spend the last night of our Madagascar safari at Hotel Colbert. (B,L,D)